Restraint device

ABSTRACT

A restraint device having a tubular body with a handle at one end and a telescopic extension rod at the other end which allows the overall length of the body to be selectively adjusted. A cuff is attached to a tether at the end of the rod in a non-deployed position. The tether can be released so a law enforcement officer can loosely control a detainee. Electrical circuitry in the body is connected to electrodes on the lower end of the handle and on the cuff so a disabling charge can be delivered. The device is also useful to civilians as a protective device when jogging, walking, bicycling or the like.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/517,176,filed Oct. 17, 2014 which is a continuation of application Ser. No.14/288,431, filed May 28, 2014 which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 14/074,336, filed Nov. 7, 2013, which is a divisionalapplication of Ser. No. 13/763,817 filed Feb. 11, 2013, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12/803,567, filed Jun. 29,2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This description relates generally to a restraint device and morespecifically to a device for physically restraining an individual aswell as for selectively applying an electrical shock to control acombative or resistive individual or to deter or repel an attack by anindividual or an animal. The device may be utilized by law enforcementpersonnel as well as by joggers, hikers, bicyclists, animal controlofficers and others.

BACKGROUND

There are various non-lethal control, defensive or restraining devicesused by law enforcement and others to restrain and control detainees orto ward off an attacker. The simplest of these restraint devices arehandcuffs, manacles or shackles which have been available and have beenused for many years. Manacles are placed about the wrists of anindividual or, in some cases, also placed about the ankles to restrictfreedom of motion. While handcuffs and manacles are effective, anindividual or detainee, in some instances, can free himself or herselffrom these devices either by disabling the lock or by manipulation in amanner to free the wrists or ankles.

More recently other devices have been developed to either restrain ortemporarily incapacitate an individual. Aerosol defense sprayscontaining Capsicum or tear gas are well known. Stun guns use batteriesto supply electricity to a circuit which includes multiple transformerswhich boost the voltage and reduce the amperage and which charge isstored in a capacitor. The capacitor builds up and stores the electricalcharge and, upon activation, releases the charge to electrodes which isplaced in contact with an individual, causing temporary interferencewith the individual's nervous system and muscular control toincapacitate the individual.

A variation of the stun gun is the more recently developed TASER® gun.TASER® devices work in the same basic way as stun guns, except theelectrodes are positioned on the end of conductive wires attached to theelectrical circuit of the TASER® device. When activated, gas pressurelaunches the electrodes and the attached wires. Small barbs are affixedto the electrodes so that they will attach to the individual's body orclothing. Electrical current travels through the conductive wires,stunning the individual in basically the same way as a conventional stungun.

A main advantage of a TASER® device is that individuals can be broughtunder control at distances of up to 20 feet. Being able to maintain adistance or space between a detainee or would-be assailant,significantly decreases the risk to law enforcement personnel orintended victims.

While, as mentioned above, devices such as handcuffs, manacles,shackles, aerosol spray, stun guns and TASER® guns are effective in manysituations, they all inherently have certain disadvantages. Accordingly,there exists a need for an effective restraint and control device whichlaw enforcement and other individuals can use to restrain an individualwhile maintaining a space between the individual and law enforcementpersonnel. Further, there exists the need for a device of this typewhich can both provide physical restraint without electrical shock or inthe case of more extreme resistance by a detainee, can also applyelectrical shock to temporarily disable the individual. While the devicehas principal application to law enforcement, the device may also beused by civilians as a protective safety device in the event of anattack or threatened attack, as well as by animal control personnel.

Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in orderto provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not anextensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identifykey/critical elements of the example or delineate the scope of theexample. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed hereinin a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description thatis presented later.

The present example provides a restraint and control device having aninsulated handle at the upper or proximal end and a rod at the distalend which rod is telescopic within the handle so that the overall lengthof the restraint device can be adjusted. A lockable manacle or cuff issecured to the end of a tether. The manacle or cuff has a fixed arcuatesection and a pivotal arm which is engageable in a lock on the fixedsection to encircle the limb of an individual. The tether is a wire ofstainless steel or other strong material which also serves as anelectrical conductor. The end of the tether opposite the cuff is securedto a retractor within the handle. In the retracted position, the cuff issecured at the end of the telescopic rod so that the cuff and therestraint device are an integral, rigid assembly and the tether is fullyretracted on to the retractor. In this position, the restraint andcontrol device is rigid and can be attached to the limb of an individualat the cuff or manacle so the movements of the individual can berestrained and controlled by a law enforcement or other individual usingthe handle while still maintaining the restrained individual at a safedistance.

The tether can be released to free the cuff from the end of the rod. Inthis deployed position, the restrained individual will have more freedomof movement, but can still be controlled while maintained at a greaterdistance from the law enforcement or other individual.

The upper end of the handle of the restraint and control device houses abattery, transformer, capacitor and circuitry common to stun devices.This circuitry is connected to electrodes on the exterior of the distalend of the rod, as well as electrodes located within the cuff. Atrigger, preferably within a trigger guard on the handle, can beoperated to cause a high voltage, low amperage discharge to theelectrodes which will deliver a disabling or stunning shock to theindividual. The electrodes on the distal end of the rod will deter adetainee from attempting to grab the rod to wrestle it away from lawenforcement personnel or other user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present description will be better understood from the followingdetailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the cuff on the distal endof the restraint device secured about the limb of a detainee;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the restraint device of the presentexample shown in a retracted, rigid position;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the distal end of therestraint device of the present example secured about the limb of anindividual in a position with the tether deployed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the restraint device of the presentexample showing the telescopic extension of the rod and of the cuff fromthe handle;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 showing the distal rodend retracted and the tether and cuff deployed, the rod being providedwith electrodes for applying a stun or electrical shock to a detainee;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the components of the electricalcircuit housed within the handle of the restraint device as shown inFIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the handle broken away to illustrate theretractor in the handle of the device for deploying and taking up thetether.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative example of a wireless controlled restraintand control device.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the restraint device of the including acompound telescopic extension of the rod and of the cuff from thehandle.

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in theaccompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description provided below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is notintended to represent the only forms in which the present example may beconstructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions of theexample and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating theexample. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may beaccomplished by different examples.

The examples below describe a restraint device. Although the presentexamples are described and illustrated herein as being implemented in aankle restraint system, the system described is provided as an exampleand not a limitation. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, thepresent examples are suitable for application in a variety of differenttypes of restraint systems applicable to various extremities, andportions of those extremities.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the cuff on the distal endof the restraint device secured about the limb of a detainee. Themanacle 20, may be secured about a limb L such as an arm or a leg.Advantageously the manacle 20 may be applied without an officer, orother user having to be in close proximity either in attaching themanacle, or after it is applied. The manacle may be made in varioussizes for us with humans and animals of various sizes. Use of therestraint and control device advantageously allows an electricalstunning device to be used without having to apply electrodes to atorso. Alternatively, other types devices may be employed instead of anelectrical stunning device. For example mechanical devices such as thosecapable of exerting a constant or variable pressure (either uniformly,or through pressure points provided in the device), chemical means suchas irritants or the like. Such electrode placement away from the torsoshould greatly reduce risk of heart attack in those who have had anelectrical stun applied to them.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the restraint device of the presentexample shown in a retracted, rigid position. The restraint and controldevice of the present example is shown and is generally designated bythe numeral 10.

The restraint device 10 has an elongate, generally tubular body 12having a handle 14 at its upper proximal end and a lower, distal end 16.The handle 14 may be a strong, lightweight non-conductive material suchas a fiberglass or a polymeric composite, or the like. The tubular shapemay be round as shown, but this is not limiting as the tube could have asquare, elliptical, rectangular or other shaped outline. Alternativelythe body 12 need not be straight. The body 12 may be curved angled orthe like. In addition to telescoping the body 12 may fold if desired.Also if telescoping the body may be extended by a flicking actioncausing the body 12 to extend and automatically lock in position, suchas in a collapsible police baton. The body may also be flexible to acertain extent, or a portion of the body may be flexible if desired. Thebody may also be deployed or extended by spring activation (undermechanical bias when compacted), chemical, pneumatic force or the like.

At an upper end of the body 12 a handle may be disposed. The upper endof the handle 14 may be contoured having recesses 18 to receive thefingers of the user. The handle 14 may also be provided with a resilientcovering, both for comfort of the user and which covering is insulatedto protect the user from electrical shock.

A manacle restraint or cuff 20 is positioned at the lower end 16 of thebody 12. Alternatively, any type of restraint suitable to attach to asubject and keep tham at a distance may be employed. The manacle 20 mayinclude a lock body 22, preferably of the double locking type, which hasinternal ratchet teeth 24 operable by a key (not shown) inserted in thelock opening 26 and rotated to open the ratchet teeth 24 and release thebolt of a double locking type lock. A fixed, generally arcuate arm 30extends from one side of the lock body and is pivotally secured to arm32 at pivot 36. A torsion spring 38 may be provided at pivot 36 to biasor urge the arm 32 to the open position when the arm 32 is unlocked. Thedistal end of arm 32 is provided with teeth 35 which are engageable withthe ratchet teeth within the lock body and, in the locked position, thearm is prevented from opening and also prevented from furthertightening. Handcuff locks of this type are known to those skilled inthe art.

When the cuff 20 is placed about the limb of an individual, as shown inFIG. 1, and locked, the restraint device is rigid and can be used torestrain and control the movements of an individual. The cuff 20 can beopened at key lock 26 and the arm 32 will move to the open positionunder the influence of the spring 38. The user can engage the fixedarcuate section 30 about the limb of an individual and a quick, smart“snapping” wrist action will cause the locking arm 32 to be engaged inthe lock so that the user does not have to bend down or come into closeproximity with a restrained individual. Being able to maintain adistance from the individual to be restrained is a safety precaution anddiminishes the possibility that the restrained individual can, in somemanner, overcome or successfully resist restraint.

The restraint device 10 can be a unitary piece, but it mayadvantageously be constructed as two pieces coupled by a tether thatprovides additional advantages in use. In the two piece unit describedherein, the manacle 20 couples to the body 12 by being shaped to fit ina receiving aperture disposed in the lower end of the body 12. Thedevice 10 may remain rigid during application, and afterwards, ifdesired separated into two coupled pieces, coupled by a tether (notshown) to allow greater mobility. Separation may be accomplished bydepressing a release 95, disposed in the body 12.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the distal end of therestraint device of the present example secured about the limb of anindividual in a position with the tether deployed. Another feature ofthe present example is that the restraint allows the handle or body 12to be loosely tethered to the restrained individual. In this way, thelaw enforcement officer or other user may maintain a greater distancefrom the detained individual, but still may maintain control of thedetained individual.

A strong tether cable 80 is connected to the cuff 20. The cable may be astainless steel or other wire that extends through the lower tubularelongate body 12 into the upper handle. The cable may incorporateelectrical conductors 70 coupled to the electrodes 50, 50A, andactivated by the officer in alternative examples of the restraint andcontrol device including a TASER®, or other equivalent stunning device.

Before activation the cuff 20 may be held against a flush cut end of thetube 12, by the cable tension, as its retraction mechanism may be underspring bias. Being held against the flush cut tube by cable tension mayalso be augmented by other equivalent coupling mechanisms. For example acone may be disposed on the manacle so that it retracts and centers whenpulled into the hollow center of the tube 12. Alternatively any sort ofaperture may be disposed in either the manacle 20 or tube 12 torecievabally couple to a mating surface provided on the component thatwill mate with it.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the restraint device of the including atelescopic extension of the rod and of the cuff from the handle. Thedevice may be extensible so the user may adjust the length of the body12. A lower rod end 16 is slidable within the tubular body 12. The lowerrod end 16 defines a longitudinally extending slot 40 in which aplurality of bores 42 are provided. A spring-loaded detent pin 46 isprovided at the lower end of the handle portion which is engageable inone of the bores to lock the rod at a selected position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative example of the restraintand control device similar to FIG. 4. The restraint device of thepresent example may also be provided with the capability of applying ahigh voltage, low amperage electrical charge to an individual to assistin restraining or stunning an individual who is resistive or combative.

The figure shows the distal rod end retracted and the tether and cuffdeployed, and further includes the rod being provided with electrodes 50for applying a stun or electrical shock to a detainee. To provide ashock a conventional circuit such as used in an electric fence, stungun, or TASER® may be utilized, as in this example by including it inthe body 12.

The electrical circuit 60 is connected via at least two conductors 70 tothe electrodes 50 and, upon discharge, activated by a trigger 55 on thehandle will send the electrical charge to the electrodes. The conductors70 are contained within tether 80 or the tether 80 itself may serve asthe conductor between the electrical circuit and the electrodes.

Additional electrodes 50A may also be located on the inner side of thearms of the cuff and are shown as fixed arms 30. A safety may beprovided to lock the trigger 55 and prevent inadvertent discharge. Thesafety is conventionally constructed like a pushbutton safety on afirearms, as is well known to those skilled in the art. Alternativelyother types of trigger locks may be used as safety's including baleslatches and the like. The charge delivered to the electrodes 50A on thecuff from the circuit 60 will stun the restrained detainee. Theelectrodes 50 on the lower end of the body 12 of the device can beplaced in contact with an unrestrained individual to subdue theindividual. The electrodes 50 will also hold to fend off a restrainedindividual from attempting to grab the device and wrest it from lawenforcement personnel or other user.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 and shows thedetent pin 46 in an engaged position in one of the bores 42. Thetelescopic lower rod end 16 may also be adjusted by other convenientmechanisms such as an adjustable locking slip collar or the like. Thebody may also be non-adjustable having a fixed length either longer forlaw enforcement personnel or shorter for civilian use.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 and showselectrodes 50 disposed on the body 12. The body 12 can be provided withtwo or more pairs of electrodes 50. However, any number of electrodes,and patterns of electrodes are contemplated, two electrodes typicallybeing a minimum number provided.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the components of the electricalcircuit 60 that may be housed within the handle of the restraint deviceshown in FIG. 5. The electrodes previously shown may be coupled to anelectrical circuit 60 within the handle. The electrical is a stunningcircuit, conventionally constructed and may include a battery 62,voltage amplifier 64 and a capacitor 66 or their equivalents, which areconventional to stun guns and other devices such as TASER® devices. Inaddition a conventionally constructed wireless receiver and antenna 67and associated circuitry may be included in the circuit to allow remoteactivation of the stunning circuit 60.

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the handle broken away to illustrate theretractor in the handle of the device for deploying and taking up thetether. The spool can be unlocked allowing the spring-biased spool torewind the cable to return the cuff to the position shown in FIG. 2. Theuser can allow the spool to fully rewind the tether, placing the cuff ina secured position at the lower end of the body.

The upper end of the body (12 of FIG. 2) houses a spring-loadedretractor spool 90 upon which the cable 80 is wound. Spring 92 will urgethe spool in a direction to wind the cable on the spool. When the lawenforcement officer or other user wishes to deploy the cable, a shaftacting as a release 95 will disengage the teeth on the ratchet 98 fromthe teeth 96 on the spool, allowing the spring-biased spool to freelyrotate to pay out or deploy cable 80 when the handle is pulled and thetether cuff engaged about the limb of an individual. Thus, the user canallow the connecting tether cable to extend to a desired length at whichpoint the spool will be locked by ratchet teeth 98 engaging the releasemaintaining the cable at the desired length in a taut condition.

Tether 80 is unwound from spool 90, which may include spring bias bybiasing spring 92. Spring bias is conventionally supplied for taking upthe tether, or otherwise retracting it. A ratcheting mechanism isprovided by teeth 86 on the edge of spool 90. Spool teeth may engagewith a toothed spool 98, so that as the tether 80 is extended it is notautomatically retracted. The tether may be retracted by pushing anexposed end of shaft 95 that is slidebally disposed in apertures in thehandle 12. Spring bias (not shown) may be provided to return the spool98 to position. Other equivalent structures for deploying and retractingthe tether 80 may be provided that function as described herein.

The tether 80 may have the conductors 70 disposed on it, or otherwisecoupled to it, along its length so that when the tether plays off of thespool the conductors go with it. The conductors may be on the inside, oroutside of the tether, or may be incorporated in the tether itself. Forexample with conductors on the interior the tether may be a woventubular cable with the insulated conductors included in its core. If onthe outside the conductors may be bonded or otherwise coupled to thetether. The tether may be made from any suitable conductive materiallike a steel braided cable, nonconductive material such as nylon cord,or a combination of materials or their equivalent.

Conductors 70 may be wound on a spool behind spool 90, and wound in theopposite direction to the tether 80 so that they unwind into the hollowhandle when the tether is extended. This maintains the high voltageconnection to the electronics (60 of FIG. 8) disposed in the handle.Alternatively a contactor arrangement, with brushes or the like maycouple the electrical signals from the electronics (60 of FIG. 8) to theconductors 70 that have been incorporated into the tether80.

Alternatively the conductors 70 may deploy separately from the tether 80with their own deployment mechanism such as spring wire wound undertension so that the wires tend to quickly play off of a spindle uponwhich they are wound. Other known equivalent retractor mechanismsincluding a manually windable retractor spool can be used in alternativeexamples.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative example of a wireless controlled restraintand control device. In this example a need for conductors extending fromthe handle is eliminated as the electronic circuit 60 is part of thepreviously described cuff 20. Electrodes 50A are activated by thetrigger 55 activating conventionally constructed transmitter electronicsin the body 12 that are coupled wirelessly 1001 to an antenna andreceiver electronics that are coupled to the electronic circuit 60.Optionally electrodes 50 may be incorporated into the body, with anadditional electronic circuit (not shown, but as previously described)to create a stun baton after deployment of the cuff 20. The previouslydescribed tether release 94 may be used in this example to release thecuff 20 from the body 12. Alternatively the tether (80 of FIG. 3) may beincluded to provide added control.

In another alternative example, in the case of a detachable cuff havinga wireless ling as shown in FIG. 10, two cuffs may be included in thedevice-one at each end, increasing it usefulness for example in riotsand crowd control. Controls and circuitry are duplicated as needed tocontrol the additional cuff.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the restraint device of the including acompound telescopic extension of the rod and of the cuff from thehandle. The device may be extensible so the user may adjust the lengthof the body 12. A lower rod end 16 is slidable within the tubular body12 in two locations allowing quick deployment. The lower rod end 16longitudinally extends, and the piece having the catch 46, also movesaway from the body 12 as it extends to an open position.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to make various changes,alterations and modifications to the example described herein. To theextent such changes, alterations and modifications do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims, they are intended to beencompassed therein.

Those skilled in the art will realize that the process sequencesdescribed above may be equivalently performed in any order to achieve adesired result. Also, sub-processes may typically be omitted as desiredwithout taking away from the overall functionality of the processesdescribed above.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A restraint device comprising: an elongatebody having an upper and lower end; a detachable restraint at the lowerend of the body, including a stunning device wirelessly activated; andin which the elongate body length is extensible by a flicking motion. 2.The restraint device of claim 1, further comprising a spring loadeddetent pin to facilitate locking the body in place.
 3. The restraintdevice of claim 1, in which the restraint device is a cuff.
 4. Therestraint device of claim 1, in which wireless activation is by an RFsignal.
 5. The restraint device of claim 1, in which the restraintencircles a body appendage of the subject and locks to prevent removalby the subject.
 6. The restraint device of claim 1, in which wirelessactivation is provided by a remote control.
 7. The restraint device ofclaim 6, in which the remote control is disposed in the upper end of theelongate body.
 8. A restraint device comprising; an elongate body havingan upper and lower end; a detachable restraint at the lower end of thebody, including a stunning device wirelessly activated; and in whichwireless activation is by an infrared signal.